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Washington D.C. - With the recent news of President Obama’s executive action restricting gun ownership in America, Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL-03) released the following statement:

“Here we go again, President Obama proposing to implement his views on what is right for the American people without their consent or going through Congress. I have always been a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment. The right to bear arms is an unalienable right afforded to all Americans, protected by the Constitution, and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court as recent as 2008. Any changes to gun laws should come through Congress, via the legislative process, not from one man who appears to insist upon circumventing the Constitution and abusing the executive office.

“I oppose any executive overreach by this president. In anticipation of any executive order on gun control, I joined thirty-four Members of Congress in sending a letter to the president requesting the data the president used to support his unilateral action, which policies would have prevented the recent years’ major shootings, and how the White House expects to enforce the new rules on criminals who already operate outside the rule of law.

“It angers me that our president is willing to sell or give – at taxpayers’ expense – military grade weapons to Syrian free rebels or deliver eighty tons of weapons into remote areas of Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq without properly vetting those different groups. Yet when it comes to American citizens, who are guaranteed under the Constitution the right to own and bear arms, he wants to infringe on these rights and restrict access.

“The U.S. Constitution deliberately limits the power of the executive branch within the framework of our system of government. It is unfortunate we have a president who ignores this and operates more like a king over his subjects. The American people deserve better and I will work with my colleagues to make sure we deliver. ”